Working in a coalition of Unions that represent administrative support classifications throughout King County, your Local Union has achieved a tentative agreement which financially recognizes long-term County employees for their service.

Under the agreement, approximately 250 Local 117 members in the County’s administrative support classifications will receive longevity pay after 15 years of service so long as they maintain a minimum performance threshold.

The newly-negotiated plan states that members with 15 years of service or greater will receive a 1.5 percent salary increase, while members with 20 years of service or greater will receive a 3 percent increase. The 1.5 and 3 percent increases are stand alone and not cumulative. Longevity pay will be granted for senior employees in 2012 who maintain a 3.25 eligibility threshold in 2011.

“We presented the County with a comparable analysis and clearly demonstrated in the arbitration hearing that employees in the County’s administrative support classifications had fallen behind relative to comparable positions at other cities and counties in our region,” said Local 117 General Counsel Spencer Thal, the lead negotiator in the case.

“The Union did a fantastic job with its presentation,” said King County Shop Steward Walt Chaffee, who participated in bargaining. “From my perspective, we have made great strides at recognizing members for their long-term service in an incredibly difficult economic environment.”

Upcoming brown bag meetings will be scheduled across the County to discuss the new tentative agreement. Meeting times and locations will be announced on your Union’s website at www.teamsters117.org once they are established.

The agreement will be voted on when contract negotiations are complete. If you have any questions, please talk to your Business Representative.